Beattie awarded MBE

JOHNNY Beattie has been awarded an MBE for his services to charity and showbusiness.

Smiles Edith Bowman s mother Eleanor was also honoured for services to charity Smiles: Edith Bowman's mother Eleanor was also honoured for services to charity

The last of Scotland's traditional music hall entertainers, the 80-year-old actor and comedian - currently starring in BBC soap River City - described the gong as his end of term report.

"Fifty five years in showbusiness and they still haven't found me out," he joked.

"I think it must be an award for good attendance. You know, for turning up. A lot of the time the audience didn't turn up - but I always did."

The award, which will be given at a Palace investiture in November, caps an amazing 55 years in the entertainment industry for the former electrical engineer who began his working life at the Fairfield Shipyards in Govan.

It also gives Johnny membership of an exclusive band of Scottish entertainers from a bygone eera - Rikki Fulton, Jimmy Logan, Jack Milroy and Moira Anderson - who have also been honoured this way. Johnny said he planned to make the Palace ceremony a family affair, with daughters Maureen, an actress, and Louise, a lawyer, joined by sons Mark and Paul.

It's a very pleasant surprise but really I am more pleased for my family who are well chuffed

"It's a very pleasant surprise but really I am more pleased for my family who are well chuffed," he continued.

The modest entertainer declined to discuss his involvement as a tireless worker for children's charities, stating that he Rjust got involved in some benefit work."

Born in Govan, he has appeared in summer seasons and pantomimes all over Scotland, often as host in shows such as Pride of the Clyde.

A versatile performer, Johnny has hosted several series of the television game show Now You See It. His song The Glasgow Rap was a big hit locally. A natural comic, he is in great demand as a compere and after-dinner speaker.

Speaking of his humble beginnings, he recalled how he broke into showbusiness in double act with comedian Wally Butler, before being hired by the great Scottish singer Robert Wilson for a six month concert tour of Scotland.

He claims that 'genetics' are the key top his longevity in showbusiness. "My father was 87 when he died, so I suppose there is a genetic thing kicks in," he said. Johnny appeared as a straight actor in TV programmes such as Taggart and River City, where he plays Malcolm Hamilton - the eldest resident of fictional Shieldinch - who adores his children, Gina and Eileen, and his grandchildren, Joanne, Ruth and Brian. But Johnny says one of his great regrets is that he never had any grandchildren of his own.

"It has been one of the biggest frustrations of my life," he said.

The mother of Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman said she was "chuffed" about her MBE award.

Eleanor Bowman, from Anstruther in Fife, has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to charity.

The 52-year-old and husband Sandy, 61, have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes during the last 20 years.

They used to run the Craw's Nest hotel in Fife, where occasional raffles and dinner dances snowballed over the years into a major charitable organisation.

Now she still organises local dinners and events featuring celebrities that raise up to £25,000 a year for cancer research and disabled children.

Mrs Bowman said of her award: "I am just thrilled. "But it's not really just for me - it's the people that have contributed.

"I am shocked too - there must be so many more people out there who are more deserving."

She said she hoped London-based Edith, 32, would not be adopting any airs and graces as a result of the honour.

The 32-year-old has become one of the best known voices on radio since starting at Radio 1 in 2003.

She currently presents the radio station's weekly afternoon show.

Mother-of-two Mrs Bowman said: "I hope she won't be mentioning it on air, or I'll have to give her a kick up the backside.

"But we'll probably have a wee family get-together - I am just really, really chuffed."

Amongst the Scots honoured with a CBE are:

Tayside Police Chief Constable, John Vine QPM; Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland, Raymond Young OBE; Director of Barnardo's Scotland, Hugh MacKintosh OBE. Recipients of the OBE include Stephen Carter, Director of De Vere Hotels, Fife; James Douglas, General Manager of Glasgow Underground; Neil McCulloch, Chair of Crimestoppers Scotland and Tom Kelly, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland's Colleges. The MBE has been awarded to Johnny Beattie for services to Entertainment and Charity; Tommy Gilmour for services to Boxing and the community and Dunfermline FC legend, Jim Leishman, for services to Sport.

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